Free ranging next to a corn field?

[ChixPix]

We literally live in the middle of a bean field. 2 acres on a gravel (busy) road with corn (this summer) on all 4 sides.
Hubs is insistant they will be free range during the day, but all I can think about is them getting into the corn and getting lost. Come November we find a 400 pound chicken in the middle of the corn field.

Do you think they'll stick around, or will they just chase wiggly stuff until they get lost?

We do NOT have a fence around the property, it would cost a fortune.

 

[mike67909]

They will be fine. If they go out in the field which i am sure they would they would feel very safe in the tall corn. But they will come back to lay eggs, get water, etc.. Mine always find their way home of course sometimes they end up on the wrong side of the fence since my yard is only partially fenced.

 

[exsia]

I had a similar idea a couple of years ago and it worked out great until the little baby corn grew in. My chickens would jump up and eat the silk. Once the corn got closer to harvesting size, they would take a little nibble out of every corn within their reach often exposing the ears to pests....

 

[Della333]

I have corn all around me - 7 hens.... they don't stray too far from the coop really... they like my flower beds and veg. garden
sometimes but mostly like pecking around our pine trees or sitting out f the wind or on the deck sunning themselves.

If they ever did visit the cornfields they are back every night just before sundown to put themsleves to bed.
I go out to the coop every night at sundown and there they are waiting for me to lock the doors.
I top up their food every night too - lots of oats and grains after a day of foraging and I guess that keeps them coming back too.

Predators are my only concern - lots of hawks or vultures or coyotes out there.
They are really good - I call "chooks" and they coming running so I'd know right away if something got one!

 

[sourland]

Chickens getting lost in the corn should not be a problem;however, the corn provides cover for ground predators to sneak up on your chickens.

 

[95yj]

will the chickens lay eggs in the field or will they go back to the coop? I'm thinking about getting a bunch of layers and free ranging them, but i have lots of woods and fields and i'm wondering if they'll lay under trees and stuff instead of where i can find the eggs.

 

[mike67909]

Quote:
If they are used to laying in the coop then they will come back to lay. My layers never wandered far from the coop until after 7-8 months, now they will go quite far from the coop but they always come back to lay.

If you have them 100% free range then there would be no telling where they lay the eggs unless you follow them and watched them.

 

[Scout23]

I have the same question. My layers co-op is sort of built onto the barn so there's only an electric fence to keep the horses in. But it is also next to a corn/bean field that I do not own. They already like to go onto the edge of the field to eat any corn or bugs they find but am worried once the corn comes up they'll get lost. They usually come back to the coops to lay their eggs and then they'll be back out enjoying the sun and rolling in the dirt. They also return to the coops when the sun goes down to get shut in for the night. Not too many hawks around my place and coyotes would be pretty stupid to come in the fence since I have a mule. But anyway my main concern is if they'll still return or not once there's plants in the field

** for those who dont know, mules HATE coyotes. Like a coyote who gets anywhere near a mule pretty much has a death wish

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I live in the mountains surrounded by one road and the woods. Allllllllllllll of this space and they prefer to cross the road. To get to the other side. It sounds like a joke but I am serious. I need an enclosure for them but we just moved and are building the garden right now. In all seriuosness though, 200-300 feet is about the furthest they've ever traveled from the coop.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not release my chickens until the corn is well established. They will dig up both seeds and young plants in a heartbeat!